Vehicle signaling switch arrangement



1954 J. R. HOLLINS VEHICLE SIGNALING SWITCH ARRANGEMENT 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed July 24, 1951 INVENTOR. JESSE IQ HOLA/A/J Oct. 26, 1954 J. R. HOLLINS 2,692,981

VEHICLE SIGNALING SWITCH ARRANGEMENT Filed July 24, 1951 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 m; 5 TER /6'A// 7704/ Ju/rrc/l A Z JNVENTOR.

JESSE 2. HOLL/NS Q; A Tram/Er Patented Oct. 26, 1954 VEHICLE SIGNALING SWITCH ARRANGEMENT Jesse B. Hollins, Brooklyn, N. Y.

Application July 24, 1951, Serial N 0. 238,263

8 Claims. 1

This invention relates to directional signalling lamp circuits for vehicles and, more particularly, to a novel switch and circuit connection whereby all the signal lamps may be flashingly energized at once to act as flares for energizing stopping or parking.

Modern motor vehicles are equipped with two pairs of lamps for signalling changes in direction, one pair being mounted on either side of the front of the vehicle and the other pair on either side of the rear of the vehicle. A selector switch is provided to selectively energize both left lamps or both right lamps, preferably in circuit with a flasher to flash the selectively illuminated lamps.

The flasher generally includes a resistance wire which is always in circuit and which is periodically shunted by operation of a movable switch arm responsive to heating of the resistance wire. This arm makes alternate contact with two terminals. When the resistance wire is not shunted, its high resistance prevents any efiective current flow to the signal lamps, so that the lamps are energized only when the resistance wire is shunted by the movable flasher arm.

When the latter shunts the resistance wire, the wire cools and the flasher arm disengages the shunting contact.

When the flasher arm disengages the shunt contact, it is engaged with a terminal or contact which, for convenience, will be termed the dead contact to distinguish from the shunt contact and the live contact connected to the vehicle battery or generator.

The flasher also includes a pilot lamp relay having an operating coil in series with the shunt contact and the flasher terminal connected to the selector switch. The relay has an armature arranged, when the relay is energized, to connect the shunt contact to a pilot lamp terminal of the flasher.

When a vehicle makes an emergency stop, or is parked along a highway because of being disabled, it is desirable to warn other vehicles, to avoid risk of accident. While flares are frequently used for this purpose, they are not usually available in private passenger cars. Further, though the signal lamps on one or the other side of the vehicle could be flashed as a warning, the lamp controls are usually connected through the ignition switch, so that in an emergency parking situation, when the motor is generally turned 01f, the signal lamps cannot be energized.

The present invention is directed to a novel flare switch connected between the flasher and the source of electric potential therefor. This flare switch normally connects the flasher to the ignition switch or lock, but can be operated to connect the flasher to the vehicle ammeter which is always connected to the battery and generator. Additionally, the flare switch connects the shunt terminal of the flasher to one set of signal lamps independently of the selector switch, and connects the pilot lamp terminal of the flasher to the other set of lamps, likewise independently of the selector switch. The flare switch also connects a second pilot lamp to the relay or pilot lamp flasher terminal.

When the flare switch is operated, the ignition switch and selector switch are bypassed. One set of lamps is flashingly energized through the shunt flasher terminal, and the other set and the second pilot lamp, through the flasher relay terminal. Both sets of lamps are thus simultaneously flashed. Also, the lamp load is divided between the shunt terminal and the relay terminal so that the shunt contact and relay coil are not overloaded or overheated. For an understanding of the invention principles, reference is made to the following description of a typical embodiment thereof as illustrated in the accompanying drawing.

In the drawing:

Fig. 1 is a schematic wiring diagram of a standard flasher and vehicle directional signalling arrangement;

Fig. 2 is a schematic wiring diagram of the arrangement of Fig. 1 as altered in accordance with the present invention; and

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the principal elements of the flare switch.

Referring to- Fig. l, the usual vehicle directional signalling circuit includes a selector switch It having a base II and an operating handle 12 pivoted thereon. Base H carries contacts !3, M, 16, I! cooperable with contact strip or switch [5 movable with handle l2. Contacts l3 and M are respectively connected to grounded left front signal lamp LF and grounded right front signal lamp RF. Similarly, contacts I6, I! are respectively connected to grounded left rear signal lamp LR and grounded right rear signal lamp RR. Central contact 18 is connected to the shunt terminal 2! of a flasher 20.

Flasher 20 has a live terminal 22 normally connected to the vehicle ignition switch. Terminal 22 is connected to shunt contact 23 by a high resistance wire 24 of Nichrome or the like, and is also connected to a movable operating arm 25 normally engaged with dead contact 26. Shunt contact 23 is connected to shunt terminal 2| through the operating coil 3| of a relay 30 having an armature 32 connected to contact 23. Armature 32 is arranged to engage a front contact 33 when coil 3| is energized, and contact 33 is connected to relay terminal 27 of the flasher. A grounded low resistance pilot lamp P is connected to terminal 21.

This conventional arrangement operates :in the following manner. Assuming that a left turn is to be signalled, selector switch arm I2 is moved clockwise so that strip connects contacts l3 and 16 to contact l8. Current flows through wire 24, whose resistance is suffic-iently high to prevent enough flow of current to ener repeats to flash lamps LFjLRand P. Thuseither the right or left signal lamps may be selectively flashed, pilot lamp P being fias'he'd with either pair.

Referring to Figs. '2 and 3, "a flare switch iil is cdnne'cted between flasher live terminal 22 and v the vehicle potential source. Switch lil includes a-dieiect-r'ic base t on which is movably mounted a dielectric slide '42, which maybe spring biased (not shown) to the position of Fig. 2. Slide 42 has an 'operating handle 4'3.

tease M carries near 'one side a "pairo'f spaced contacts Wt, "46 transverselyc posite aneldngated contact W on the opposite side *oi the lease. Contact l? i's-connected to flasher contact 22,'con tact M *is connected to the ignition switch, and contact W6 is connected to the vehicle ammeter, the ignition switch or look and the a'mrneter being connected to the grounded 'vehicle battery in the usual manner.

'Ello the left "of these intermediate contacts, as viewed in Figs. 2 and 3, base M has 'a first set =c'f three contacts 5|, 52, 53, a rranged along-an arc, although these contacts could be in 'a straight line. Contact 5t isconneete'd to signal lamp LR, contact 52 to fiasher relay contact Q1, and contact 53 to lamp LF.

A second set cf contacts 356, 51, 58 are on base B l to the night of the intermediate contacts and are arranged similarl y to thefirst se't. ContactEB -i-s cciinected t'o lamp RR, contact 5 to flasher I erminal 2 I, and contact 58 to damp The underside or slide 42 carries three trans- 'ver'se'ly (arranged conductive con'ta'ct :strips &5, .50 and 55. Strip 511 lisfp'os'ition e'd to selectively intereonnect co'nt'acts 5|, 52, t's. strip 45 is positioned to selectively connect contact :41 to either "contact M :or contact Strip .55 is arranged tozselectiyely interconnect contacts 56, 51, "58. A second grounded :p'ilot lamp P is connected to strip 50.

Normally slide '42 )is :biasedtcthe :lett by spring 48 so that strip '45 connects contacts 4'4 and m, 'thus (connecting flasher "to the iigniti'oniswit'ch. In this position the signal lamps are @under the controliofrseledtoriswitch ii 0,'s'trips s50 sandals Rbe'ing disengaged :from their respective contacts.

To -flash all the signal .lamps simultaneously, handle 48 is grasped to pull slide M to therriglrt. Strip snow connects \flasher 20 .to the eammeter through contacts as :and 4-1. Strip intericon- 4 nects contacts 5|, 52 and 53, energizing lamps LF and LR from flasher relay contact 2?. Pilot lamps P and P are also energized from contact 21. Strip 55 interconnects contacts 56, 51, 58, energizing lamps RF and RR from shunt terminal 23.

All the lamps are thus flashingly energized simultaneously, lamps LE, LE, P and P drawing current 'th-nough' relay "terminal 2 and lamps RF, RR, drawing current through shunt terminal 2| and relay coil 3|. Thus, neither the shunt terminal nor the relay coil is overloaded.

the event selector switch ID has only one '-left terminal and one righ terminal, both the front and rear lamps being connected to one terminal, then one contact (5|, 53 or 55, 58) can he omitted iii-1 cm base 4 While a specific embodiment of the invention has been shown and described to illustrate the application of the invention principles, it will be understood that the invention may be embodied otherwisewithout departing from-su'ch principles.

What is cl'a ime'd is:

l. A signalling system for a vehicle having an ignition lock, an =ammet'er, :a grounded ibatteiy connected to said ignition lock and said ammeter, sets -'of grounded signail "lamps, a flasher having a shunt terminal, &a :contact ccnnected to said shunt terminal, a live tenm inal, a thigh resistance wire interconnec'ting s'aid live terminal and said shunt contact, "a *movable contact arm connected tosaid live terminal and operable by said w ire alternately to engage and disengage said *s'hunt 'contactand a sclectc'r switch havingplnral lamp contacts respectively connected to the sets o'f lamps and a switch arm-ccnnected zto the .s'hunt terminal of the fiasher and selectively engageable "with the lamp contacts to selectively (connect either set of lamps to the shunt terminal or" the flasher, :said system comprising a control switch including a base having a flasher :contact :connected to the live terminal of the flasher, a pair of live -contacts irespectiyely connected to the ignition lock and the amme'ten'and first and second pairs of lamp contacts, one lamp coin'tact iof 'one pair being connected directly to "the :shunt terminal and one Llamp contact of the =other pair being connected to said shunt contact whenssa'id contact arm is engaged "with the latter, iIIl'eal'lS connecting tlie.o'ther lamp contact of each pair to anifierent one ot the I-lamp contacts sof the selector switch, a ifiI'St bridging iel'ement operable itoiinterconnect the lamp contacts ofit'he pair, a second bridging element pp'erabl'e toiinter'ccn- 'nect thelamp contacts ref .thesecondtpair, aithird bridgin-g element-selectivelyoperable to connect the flashercontact ot "theswitch t'o either-of sai'd p'a'ir of live c'ontacts, said bridgin'g elements normally being :a position in whichsaid first and :second elements aredisengaged irom' the'ir a ssodiated lamp contacts and said third element connects said flasher contact to the ignition lock live =contact, and means operable to simultaneo'us'ly move said bridging elements to positions bridging 'e'a'c'hlpair o'flamp contactszand connectin'g said flasher contao't to the amm'eter live contact tom-ash eilllthe signal lamps simultaneously.

2. nisignalling :system ffcrza'ivehie'le .lhacingian ignition lock, ran :annneter, :a grounded battery "connected morsaidiigriiticn lock and .saidiammeteig :sets :of grounded :si'gnal lamps,;a .llasherlhaving 1a :shunt terminal, :a :relay terminal, 2a i-shunt contact connected to said -1shnnt terminal, :a :relay Shaving 'acoil connected 'betweensaid shunt terminal and *shunt tcon'tact rand =an=armatare connected to said shunt contact and operable by said coil to engage the relay terminal, a live terminal, a high resistance wire interconnecting said live terminal and said shunt contact, a movable contact arm connected to said live terminal and operable by said wire alternately to engage and disengage said shunt contact, and a selector switch having plural lamp contacts respectively connected to the sets of lamps and a switch arm connected to the shunt terminal of the flasher and selectively engageable with the lamp contacts to selectively connect either set of lamps to the shunt terminal of the flasher, and a pilot lamp connected to said relay terminal, said system comprising a control switch including a base having a flasher contact connected to the live terminal of the flasher, a pair of live contacts respectively connected to the ignition lock and the ammeter, and first and second pairs of lamp contacts, one lamp contact of each pair being connected directly to a different one of the lamp contacts of the selector switch and the other lamp contact of each pair being connected respectively to the shunt terminal and the relay terminal of the flasher, a first bridging element operable to interconnect the lamp contacts of the first pair, a second bridging element operable to interconnect the lamp contacts of the second pair, a third bridging element selectively operable to connect the flasher contact of the switch to either of said pair of live contacts, means biasing said bridging elements to a position in which said first and second elements are disengaged from their associated lamp contacts and said third element connects said flasher contact to the ignition lock live contact, and means operable to simultaneously move said bridging elements to positions bridging each pair of lamp contacts and connecting said flasher contact to the ammeter live contact to flash all the signal lamps simultaneously.

3. A signalling system for a vehicle having an ignition lock, an ammeter, a grounded battery connected to said ignition lock and said ammeter, sets of grounded signal lamps, a flasher having a shunt terminal, a shunt contact connected to said shunt terminal; a live terminal, a high resistance wire interconnecting said live terminal and said shunt contact, and movable contact arm connected to said live terminal and operable by said wire alternately to engage and disengage said shunt contact, and a selector switch having plural lamp contacts respectively connected to the sets of lamps and a switch arm connected to the shunt terminal of the flasher and selectively engageable with the lamp contacts to selectively connect either set of lamps to the shunt terminal of the flasher, said system comprising a control switch including a base having a flasher contact connected to the live terminal of the flasher, a pair of live contacts respectively connected to the ignition lock and the ammeter, and first and second pairs of lamp contacts, one lamp contact of each pair being connected directly to a different one of the lamp contacts of the selector switch and the other lamp contact of one pair being connected to the shunt terminal of the flasher and one lamp contact of the other pair being connected to said shunt contact when said contact arm is engaged with the latter, a slide movably mounted on said base and carrying a first bridging element operable to interconnect the lamp contacts of the first pair, a second bridging element operable to interconnect the lamp contacts of the second pair, and a third bridging element selectively operable to connect the flasher contact of the switch to either of said pair of live contacts, and said slide normally having a position in which said first and second elements are disengaged from their associated lamp contacts and said third element connects said flasher contact to the ignition lock live contact, said slide being operable to a position in which said first and second elements bridge the respective pairs of lamp contacts and said third element connects said flasher contact to the ammeter live contact, to shunt the selector switch and flash all the signal lamps simultaneously.

4. A signalling system for a vehicle having an ignition lock, an ammeter, a grounded battery connected to said ignition lock and said ammeter, sets of grounded signal lamps, a flasher having a shunt terminal, a shunt contact connected to said shunt terminal, a live terminal, a high resistance wire interconnecting said live terminal and said shunt contact, a movable contact arm connected to said live terminal and operable by said wire alternately to engage and disengage said shunt contact, and a selector switch having plural lamp contacts respectively connected to the sets of lamps and a switch arm connected to the shunt terminal of the flasher and selectively engageable with the lamp contacts to selectively connect either set of lamps to the shunt terminal of the flasher, said system comprising a control switch including a base having an elongated flasher contact connected to the live terminal of the flasher, a pair of spaced live contacts respectively connected to the ignition lock and the ammeter opposite said elongated flasher contact, and first and second pairs of lamp contacts, one lamp contact of each pair being connected directly to a difierent one of the lamp contacts of the selector switch and the other lamp contact of one pair being connected to the shunt terminal of the flasher and one lamp contact of the other pair being connected to said shunt contact when said contact arm is engaged with the latter, a slide movably mounted on said base and carrying a first bridging element operable to interconnect the lamp contacts of the first pair, a second bridging element operable to interconnect the lamp contacts of the second pair, and a third bridging element selectively operable to connect the flasher contact of the switch to either of said pair of live contacts, and means biasing said slide to a position in which said first and second elements are disengaged from their associated lamp contacts and said third element connects said flasher contact to the ignition lock live contact, said slide being operable to a position in which said first and second elements bridge the respective pairs of lamp contacts and said third element connects said flasher contact to the ammeter live contact, to shunt the selector switch and flash all the signal lamps simultaneously.

5. A signalling system for a vehicle having an ignition lock, an ammeter, a grounded battery connected to said ignition lock and said ammeter, sets of grounded signal lamps, a flasher having a shunt terminal, a relay terminal, a shunt contact connected to said shunt terminal, a relay having a coil connected between said shunt terminal and said shunt contact and an armature connected to said shunt contact and operable by said coil to engage the relay terminal, a live terminal, a high resistance Wire interconnecting said live terminal and said shunt contact, and movable contact arm connected to said live terminal and operable by said wire alternately to engage and disengage said shunt contact, and a 17 selector switch having plural :lamp contacts ,n spectively connected to the nets of lamps and :a switch arm connected to the shunt terminal :of the flasher and selectively :engageahle with the lamp contacts to selectively connect either set of ;-lamps to the shunt terminal of the flasher, vsaidzsystemoomprising;a control switch including a :hase :having a flasher contact :connected to "the .live terminal 10f the flasher, a ,pair of live roontacts respectively connected to the ignition lock and the rammeteniand first and second pairs of lamp contacts, one lamp contact of each pair ibei'ng connected -.dire'ctly \to .a different set of ,signal lamps :and the other :larnp contacts being connected mespectively to the shunt terminal and -,the :relay terminal not the Iflasher, :a ,slide movaoly imountedton said :base andl'earrying aa lfirst :bnidging element operable to interconnect the lamp contacts f fthe .first pair, a second bridging {element operable to interconnect the lamp contacts :of the second pair, and .a :third bridging \element selectively operable te-connect :the flasher contact ,of'the switch =to-either=of said pair of live pontacts, :a thirst rpilot :lamp connected to the :flasher lrelay terminal, a second pilot lamp eonneeted to one ofisaidfi-rst and-second elements, and means -bias- :ingsaid slide to -;a position in which ssaid ,first :and second elements :are disengaged from their :associated lamp contacts and said third element conmeets :said ifi-ashertcontact :to the ignition lock live toseidishuntzterminal,1a high resistance wire inateroonnecting said flive terminal :and :said shunt contact, :and zaunovable contact :arm connected to said liveterminal; and operable by said iwireialter- ,nately toaengageandadisengagesaidshuntlcontact and to each aof tthelamp :means and selectively operahle to connect either :set 'of damp means {to said shunt terminal; andzswitch meansoonnected to said ilive terminal, the zignition lock, and the ammeter and selectively operable to .eonnectzsaid live terminalto e-itherstheignitiondock'oretheema meter; :said switch means including -connections to each of the lamp :meansinparallel with the ;sele.ctor -.switch connections sthereto land, in the positioniconnecting said flasher 2130 the ammeter, connecting the lamp means to said .fi-asher ,independently 50f .said selector cswitch.

J7 :In :.a rtsignalling system .for a vehicle :having aanrignition lock, an :ammeter, a grounded battery sconn'ected :to :ignition dock and said :am-

8 meter, and two sets of grounded direction signalling lamp means; a :ilasher having a live terminal, ashunt terminal, a relay terminal, a shunt .contactponnectedto said shunt terminalma relay having a coil :conneoted ihetween said shunt terand ,shunt contact and an armature icon- .neeted to said shunt contact and operable by said coil to engage the relay terminal, a high're- :s-istanee wire interconnecting said live terminal and said shunt contact, and a movable contact arm connected to said live .terminai-andioperable Joy said wire alternately to engage anddisengage said shunt contact; a selector switchconnected to said shunt terminal and to each of the lamp means and selectively operable to iconnect either set ".Of lamp means to said shunt terminal; .and switch means eonneoted to said .live terminal, the ignition zlock, and the altimeter and selectively operable ,to lcon-nectz-said live terminal to-either the ignition {lock or the lammeter; Qsaid switch means including connections to reach of the damp means. to the :shunt terminal, and to the relay terminal and, in the position connecting said flasher to the ammeter, connecting tone :set 10f lamp means to the :shunt aterminal and the other .set of lamp :means to the :relay terminal.

28. ,In a signalling systemioravehicle having an ignition lock, an ammeter, -a ,grounded shattery eonnected-tosa-idignition :lock and said ammeter, and :two sets of grounded direction signalling lamp :means; ;a flasher having a -live terminal, a shunt terminal, 18. relay terminal, ra rshunt contact connected 'to said shunt terminal, a relay having -a (coil connected ,between said zshunt terminal rand shunt contact and an armatur-e con- .nected to said shunt contact and operable by said coil to engage the relay terminal, arhigh resistance wire interconnecting said live terminal :said shunt contact, and a movable conta.ct arm connected to said live ,terminahandpperable by :said wire alternately to :engage and disengage said :shunt contact; and switch ,means sconneoted to said live terminal, the ignition lock, and the .ammeter and selectively operable to connect said live [terminal .to :either the ignition look .or -the lammeter; isaid switch :means including (connections -to-each .oi :the lamp means, Zto the shunt (terminal, and-to the relay terminal and, in the position (connecting said flasher to vthe ammeter, -.c0nnecting 0116 rset =,o:f .lamp ,means to the shunt terminal :and the other set of lamp means to the relay terminal.

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